Matsya Purana — Sādhāraṇa Śrāddha: General Ancestral Rite, Shloka 50

Devanagari script

अथ पुष्पाक्षतान् पश्चाद् अक्षय्योदकम् एव च सतिलं नामगोत्रेण दद्याच्छक्त्या च दक्षिणाम् //

Transliteration

atha puṣpākṣatān paścād akṣayyodakam eva ca satilaṃ nāmagotreṇa dadyācchaktyā ca dakṣiṇām //

Translation

Kemudian, hendaklah dipersembahkan bunga dan beras yang tidak pecah (akṣata); serta persembahan air ‘yang tidak susut’ (akṣayyodaka) bersama biji wijen, sambil menyebut nama dan gotra (salasilah) penerima, dan memberikan dakṣiṇā (honorarium imam) menurut kemampuan.

Word by Word

• atha: then

• puṣpa: flowers

• akṣatān: unbroken rice-grains (akṣata)

• paścāt: afterwards

• akṣayya-udakam: inexhaustible/undiminishing water-offering (a meritorious libation)

• eva: indeed/also

• ca: and

• sa-tilaṃ: together with sesame (tila)

• nāma-gotreṇa: with (utterance of) name and gotra

• dadyāt: should give/offer

• śaktyā: according to ability

• dakṣiṇām: honorarium/fee to the officiant

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Akṣata
• Tila
• Dakṣiṇā
• Gotra

Tags

• Dharma
• Śrāddha
• Dāna
• Ritual procedure
• Householder duties

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about pralaya; it gives a dharma-oriented ritual sequence for offerings (flowers, akṣata, water-libation, sesame) and the proper manner of giving (with name/gotra and dakṣiṇā).

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames a core gṛhastha duty: perform offerings with correct sankalpa markers (name and gotra) and support the rite by giving dakṣiṇā proportionate to one’s means—emphasizing both correctness and ethical generosity.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies standard upacāras and dāna items—puṣpa, akṣata, udaka, and tila—plus the formal identification (nāma-gotra) and concluding dakṣiṇā, reflecting a complete and socially sanctioned rite-performance.